The announcement of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) proved to be music to the ears for ardent MS Dhoni fans.
Dhoni last featured in a competitive cricket match back in 2019, during the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup against New Zealand, at Old Trafford.
Since then, the talismanic wicketkeeper-batsman had been in an indefinite sabbatical. However, in February, MSD was seen practising in the nets, gearing up for IPL 2020, before COVID-19 brought the cricketing world to a standstill. The tournament was critical for Dhoni’s chances to feature in the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia.
Moreover, with the IPL 2020 now scheduled from September 19 to November 10, fans will be able to see Dhoni leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) yet again.
That said, with the cancellation of T20 World Cup, Dhoni’s chances to don the blues of India yet again seems distant. Even former India seamer, Ashish Nehra reckons that Mahi’s international career is well-over.
“As much as I know MS Dhoni, he has played his last game for India happily. MS Dhoni has nothing to prove and we, in the media, discuss all these things because he hasn’t announced his retirement. Only he can tell what’s in his head,” said Nehra, on Star Sport show ‘Cricket Connected’.
“See as far as MS Dhoni’s international career is concerned, I don’t think this IPL has anything to do with it. If you are a captain, a selector or a coach and if MS Dhoni is ready to play, he will be my number one name on the list,” he added.
Further, Nehra opined on Dhoni’s knock during the crucial encounter against New Zealand last year. Many criticized Dhoni for his hitting game going down and leaving too much to do for Ravindra Jadeja, who was going great guns at the other end.
“For me MS Dhoni’s game never came down, till the last game he played India had hoped to reach the World Cup final, till the time MS Dhoni was there. The minute he got run out everybody’s hopes were gone. It shows where his game was even at that time,” said the 41-year-old.
“He knows how to run the team, he knows how to push youngsters forward, all those things I don’t need to repeat again and again. I don’t this IPL makes any difference to his stature, his aura as a player and I don’t think so that a tournament like IPL should be MS Dhoni’s selection criteria,” Nehra concluded.
